We are thrilled to share that Preti Taneja's debut novel, We That Are Young has been shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018.

Of the book, the judges said, "We That Are Young by Preti Taneja, an ambitious retelling of King Lear which explores the play’s themes of severed relationships and warring families within the setting of modern-day India. The novel gains independent publisher Galley Beggar Press its second shortlisting for the Prize. The Norwich-based independent was previously shortlisted in 2014 with Eimear McBride’s A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing, which went on to win the Prize. Sarah Perry said, “The scope of Taneja’s ambition is breath-taking. We That Are Young is both universal in its themes of familial duty and personal failing, and exquisitely specific in its depiction of contemporary Indian society.”

The Desmond Elliott Prize has a track record of spotting exceptionally talented novelists at the very beginning of their careers. Last year, the Prize was awarded to Francis Spufford for his debut novel, Golden Hill, and other past-winners include Lisa McInerney, Claire Fuller and Eimear McBride.

Chair of judges, Sarah Perry is joined on the panel by the award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Samira Ahmed, and head of fiction and publisher liaison for Waterstones, Chris White. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony at Fortnum & Mason on 20thJune, where they will be presented with a cheque for £10,000.